President Donald Trump said on Thursday that there is a 25% chance his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage on 15 August could fail, framing the Alaska summit as a stepping-stone toward a broader peace initiative. In an interview with Fox News Radio, Trump stated that the leaders will hold a one-on-one discussion focused on securing a cease-fire in Ukraine. Should the talks make progress, he intends to convene a second meeting that would bring in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky; potential venues in Europe and Alaska are under consideration. Trump added that he is prepared to impose further sanctions on Moscow if the initial summit collapses, but he remains confident a deal can be struck at the follow-up session. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Alaska talks as "crucial" for ending the fighting, while the Kremlin welcomed what it called Washington’s "sincere efforts" to seek a settlement.